The Prime Minister Claims She's Pregnant - Chapter 26

The Gu family was small, and silence pervaded the estate.

Beside the water pavilion stood a newly built bamboo house. With the gurgling stream and the fresh air within the bamboo grove, it was a perfect spot for a tryst.

Gu Jinse had arranged a candlelit dinner inside. The night was as cool as water, and the moon quietly climbed over the willow branches. A gentle breeze drifted through the half-open window, causing the candlelight to flicker and dance.

The two sat facing each other. Gu Jinse busily poured the wine, while Ming Yi sat opposite her, cradling a glazed glass in her hands, her face flushed with a faint heat.

Gu Jinse sat down and gazed at her. “Why have you gone silent?”

“What should I say?” Ming Yi asked indifferently.

The candlelight was dim, casting a hazy glow over Ming Yi’s face that added layer upon layer of mystery.

“Tell me about your past,” Gu Jinse suggested, taking a sip of the red wine. “I can tell you about mine too. You go first; I want to know more about you.”

“When I was seven or eight, I followed His Majesty back to the palace and became his adopted daughter. Over the years, I have used his guilt to scheme against him time and time again.”

“The Emperor is indecisive. He has feelings, but he bestows them recklessly.”

“Outsiders say I am having an affair with the Emperor. They do not realize that when he looks at me, he is thinking of my mother. To him, looking at me is the same as looking at her. They have no idea that the one who bullied my mother is the current Son of Heaven. Consort De has always believed it was her own beauty that caught his eye and earned the Zhao family their current status.”

“You know how gratifying it is to stand at the heights and watch them act so self-righteously. Every time Consort De sees me, she boasts about the Zhao family being a century-old clan, their rising status, their many heirs, and their brilliant sons. In truth, it was all bought with my mother’s life.”

Having finished, she took a large gulp of wine. Opposite her, Gu Jinse narrowed her eyes. When a smirk tugged at the corner of Ming Yi’s lips, Gu Jinse’s heart trembled. Frowning slightly, she asked, “Why doesn’t the Emperor say anything?”

She could not quite wrap her head around such a relationship; she wondered why all the blame and sin always fell upon the women.

Ming Yi swirled her glass and looked up with a smile. “Because he had just ascended the throne then; his position was unstable, and the Empress Dowager could have deposed him. He lacked the ability and, well, he thought with his lower body.”

The night breeze grew chilly, carrying a sweet fragrance. The candlelight flickered, plunging the room into alternating moments of light and shadow.

Ming Yi’s head began to sway. It swayed back and forth. She realized she had drunk too much.

Gu Jinse was baffled. It had only been three glasses of wine, so she wondered how she was drunk already. She looked at Ming Yi and smiled. “You are drunk.”

“Shh. My mother was the same. During that night banquet, she was drunk, and he tricked her. Actually, the daughters of the Zhao family cannot handle their liquor. One drink and they are gone.” Ming Yi placed a finger to her lips. The candlelight cast her shadow at her feet. She blinked at Gu Jinse and asked, “I am drunk. Are you going to bully me?”

Gu Jinse’s lips twitched. She wanted to; she really, really wanted to. Having tasted it once, she could not forget the feeling. But since Ming Yi had asked, she could not bring herself to do it.

She shook her head, lowering her eyelids guiltily. “I will not.”

Opposite her, Ming Yi reached out and pinched Gu Jinse’s cheek. “Gu Jinse.”

Gu Jinse brushed her hand away. “Do not touch me.”

“You are angry.” Ming Yi rested her chin on her hand and beamed. “Gu Jinse, you are very petty.”

“How am I petty?” Gu Jinse asked, puzzled.

Ming Yi continued, “You always settle your scores.”

Gu Jinse: “?”

“I took one bite, and you gave me three back. Is that not petty?” Ming Yi’s lips curved. Her usually cold eyes held a trace of tender laughter. The icy depth had vanished, replaced by a shimmering warmth as if the surface snow had begun to melt.

Gu Jinse glared at her, grabbed her wrist, and bit down hard. Ming Yi nearly jumped out of her skin. “It hurts! It hurts!”

A deep ring of teeth marks appeared on her wrist. Ming Yi clutched her hand, looking as if she might cry. Gritting her teeth, she leaned forward and tumbled toward Gu Jinse without a second thought.

She seemed truly intoxicated.

The two tumbled off their stools with a loud clatter. Outside the bamboo house, Chun Yue heard the noise and frowned instinctively. She moved to push the door open to check, but her mistress’s voice seemed to echo in her ear. “Whatever noise comes from inside, you heard nothing.”

Chun Yue withdrew her hand. She thought she heard Chancellor Ming’s voice ask, “Have you ever been in a fight?”

Pinned underneath her, Gu Jinse was stunned. She used to think Chancellor Ming was down-to-earth, but she had gone straight into the bedrock now. This was not just being down-to-earth; it was like she was possessed by a female hooligan.

Ming Yi nimbly pinned her by the neck, a fierce glint in her eyes as she answered her own question. “I have fought many times. To grab food, to grab padded jackets.”

Gu Jinse laughed. “And what are you grabbing now?”

“You bit me! Am I supposed to just sit here and take it?” Ming Yi grumbled, tightening her grip slightly. Gu Jinse’s face turned bright red as she stared at her in disbelief. “You are so strong.”

Ming Yi laughed triumphantly. “I have always been the best. Quick, call me Sister.”

Gu Jinse wanted to laugh but held it in. “Sister, Sister.”

Only then did Ming Yi let go and scramble into a sitting position. The candlelight from the table played across her face. Gu Jinse rubbed her neck and sat up. Previously, she had only seen the Chancellor’s elegant, icy exterior, which was only the tip of the iceberg. Tonight, a completely different side had been revealed.

It was terrifying.

Ming Yi leaned against her shoulder, a faint fragrance lingering around her. She spoke slowly. “Gu Jinse, I have many suitors. They all claim to admire me, saying the same things as him. Only you are different.”

Gu Jinse: “…” (Note: Keeping the ellipses here as it represents a visual “speechless” icon in the text.)

Seeing her silent, Ming Yi nudged her shoulder. “You just kissed me directly.”

Gu Jinse’s cheeks flushed crimson with embarrassment. She quickly covered Ming Yi’s mouth, feeling incredibly guilty. “If you keep talking nonsense, I will not call you Sister anymore.”

“Suit yourself. I have plenty of sisters.” Ming Yi huffed, brushed her hand away, and began counting on her fingers, her voice soft and nasal. “I have so many. You do not even count.”

“Ming Yi, I want to kiss you, okay?” Gu Jinse’s face was glowing from the closeness. “I am different. I will not coax you; I will just kiss you.”

Ming Yi chimed in, “And bite me.”

“Yes, and bite you,” Gu Jinse repeated. Ming Yi’s hair brushed against her neck, itching intensely. “Ming Yi, what is your real name?”

“Ming Yi” was a name bestowed by the Emperor. Gu Jinse wondered what she was called before.

Ming Yi continued to nuzzle her, laughing softly. “I am not telling you. Mother used to call me Hua Nu.”

“Why that name?” Gu Jinse asked, curious.

“I was always sick. Later, the Emperor brought in a famous doctor who cured me. Mother was eternally grateful to him.” Ming Yi closed her eyes, a shadow of pain crossing her face. “Later, they called me a jinx. They said if I had not been sick, Mother would not have had to give herself to that man.”

Gu Jinse remained silent, leaning down to press a kiss to her forehead. Ming Yi hooked her arms around Gu Jinse’s neck, her eyes misty like distant mountains shrouded in fog. “Gu Jinse.”

A wave of warm breath hit Gu Jinse’s cheek, making her skin itch and her heart flutter as if brushed by a feather. Gu Jinse took a soft breath. “My name is A-Se.”

Ming Yi frowned immediately. Recalling Gu Jinse’s behavior that night, she laughed softly. “A-Se.”

It was a homophone for “lustful,” but Gu Jinse did not notice the double meaning. She leaned down and picked her up. “Time for bed.”

“Tell me a story,” Ming Yi insisted. “I want to hear a story.”

The bamboo house was equipped with a bed and soft quilts; even water for washing had been prepared. Madam Gu had been meticulous and thoughtful for her daughter’s sake.

Once tucked into bed, Ming Yi’s face remained flushed. She took a soft breath, rolled over to find the quilt, and wrapped herself up like a rice dumpling.

She fell asleep before Gu Jinse could even start the story.

Gu Jinse, who had been racking her brain for a story, squinted her eyes. Feeling a surge of frustration in her chest, she went back to drink the wine herself.

The fire at the Ministry of Revenue ended with the Third Prince receiving fifty strokes of the rod. The Zhao family was reprimanded and lost their noble title. Consort De knelt before the Emperor’s bedchamber, having removed her hairpins to plead for forgiveness.

Ming Yi continued to attend court as usual. For handling several matters successfully, she was rewarded by the Emperor with gold and land.

Being generous, Ming Yi gave it all to Gu Jinse. Gu Jinse’s assets grew yet again. Madam Gu smiled happily, telling her daughter, “If this woman does not work out as a daughter-in-law, she makes a fine friend.”

The wedding date was set for August, after the summer heat had passed. This was mainly because Ming Yi was too busy; everything revolved around her schedule. The two families exchanged birth charts and tokens of betrothal. Gu Jinse began attending banquets in the capacity of Ming Yi’s fiancé.

Since Ming Yi could not handle alcohol, Gu Jinse added a clause to their marriage agreement: when Party A is absent, Party B shall not drink with others.

Ming Yi stared in disbelief. Gu Jinse gave her a smug “Sister.”

Fuming, Ming Yi flicked her sleeves and left. Madam Gu, worried that her daughter had offended the Chancellor, felt a sense of dread.

“Mother, I am to live with her day and night. If I do not even dare to speak my mind, why would I agree to the marriage? If she is angry, I will coax her. But matters of principle must be upheld.”

Madam Gu looked at her daughter with newfound respect and clapped in approval. Gu Jinse smiled. “Mother, she is just a child at heart.”

“Do not play with fire. Even before the Emperor, people show her much deference,” Madam Gu warned. To her, Ming Yi was a dangerous figure, and one had to remain clear-headed.

While Madam Gu worried, Gu Jinse was happy. Calculating her assets, she asked, “How is Gu Jinhuan doing?”

“Who knows? Consider him dead. I will have your father take a concubine to produce another son,” Madam Gu replied with sudden irritation.

Gu Jinse whispered, “You are only thirty-four; you could have another one yourself.”

“I do not want to. Let your father do it, then I will adopt the boy under my name,” Madam Gu refused. At her age, she felt she had one foot in the grave already. Then she sighed, “Why can’t men give birth?”

Gu Jinse covered her ears, not bothering to argue. Her mother had many such questions: why do men wear pants instead of skirts? Why must women be the ones to give birth? Why can men have multiple wives while women cannot have multiple husbands?

Gu Jinse had heard it all since childhood. Usually, at this point, her father would look indignant and ask if she had any room for him in her heart.

Her mother would nod firmly. “My heart only has room for my daughter, not for any man.”

Then she would pull Gu Jinse’s ear and scold her. They say a daughter is a father’s lover from a past life; Gu Jinse felt she and Old Man Gu were more like lovers who spent their past lives fighting.

After spring, the Emperor moved to the summer palace to escape the heat. His health was failing, and he sought the cooler climate every year. Ming Yi stayed behind to oversee the capital. Except for the Third Prince, who was recovering from his injuries, all the other royal children followed.

Gu Jinse remained in the capital, and Old Man Gu secretly entered the city. As a local official, he was not allowed in without a summons. Afraid to show his face, he stayed in an inn and sent word for Gu Jinse to meet him.

Madam Gu refused to let her go alone. She took Tutu with her instead, telling Tutu that if things looked wrong, she should go ahead and punch someone.

Tutu had no idea she was about to meet Old Man Gu. She beat her chest in promise, acting all brave and mighty.

Gu Jinse went to her post at the Ministry of Revenue. The Ministry currently had no head, so Ming Yi was personally supervising. The two were constantly crossing paths.

In the sweltering heat of summer, Gu Jinse bought some watermelons for her colleagues and then trotted off to find Ming Yi, carrying a portion of chilled jelly for her.

Compared to Gu Jinse’s nonchalance, Ming Yi was busy and overwhelmed. This was especially true regarding Gu Jinse’s father entering the capital. If word of this leaked out, it would be a capital offense punishable by execution.

Seething with anger, Ming Yi had already ordered her subordinates to pack the man up and send him back to Yuhang.

When Gu Jinse knocked and entered, Ming Yi’s rage had yet to subside. She had climbed out from her “down-to-earth” persona and returned to her cold, celestial state. Gu Jinse asked, “Are you hot?”

“I am not,” Ming Yi replied ungratefully. Her gaze was deep, looking as if she had the words “I don’t want to see you” plastered across her forehead.

Gu Jinse said, “In that case, I will give it to the Vice Minister. They were looking at it quite longingly.”

Ming Yi turned her body away, ignoring her, even as beads of sweat broke out on her forehead. Gu Jinse handed the jelly over. “Have a bite. It is very sweet. Stop being angry. I do not know why you are upset, but it is bad for your health to stay this way.”

“Gu Jinse, you have caused me a great deal of trouble.” Ming Yi refused to take it. She looked up at her coldly, almost gritting her teeth. “I am very angry.”

“Did I do something wrong? The Vice Minister just praised me for making progress and said I understand things quickly now. Even my mother says I have become much smarter lately. Everyone says that being with you for a long time will turn me into a powerful woman. Could it be that someone is trying to drive a wedge between us by telling you I’ve been out flirting?”

“Chancellor Ming, rest assured, even if I did something wrong, I would not go out and hit on other women. I do not have the skill for that. So, what exactly did I do wrong?”

Ming Yi leaned her head on her hand and asked her directly, “Your father is here, is he not?”

Gu Jinse froze. Internally, she spat and gave Old Man Gu a silent scolding. “Is he? I did not know.”

“Gu Jinse, you are lying to me.” Ming Yi stared at the young person, her gaze heavy and cold. The other immediately surrendered. “He is my father, but I am not his mother. If he wants to come, I cannot exactly stop him.”

Ming Yi stated plainly, “He must leave the capital before dusk today. Gu Jinse, if he does not leave, disaster will befall the Gu family. If someone accuses him of entering the capital to form a private faction for personal gain, your entire family will be implicated.”

“Is it truly that serious?” Gu Jinse had not realized the gravity of the situation. In the modern world, it was not a crime for a mayor to travel to a neighboring city or visit Beijing.

“If it were not serious, why would he sneak into the capital secretly? Why would he be afraid to find you at the Gu estate?” Ming Yi countered.

“I understand. I will go back and persuade him to leave.” Gu Jinse set the jelly down and hurried away.

Ming Yi sat behind her desk and did not chase after her. Instead, she looked down at the translucent dessert, which had watermelon tucked inside. Curious, she poked it with her finger, and the dessert bounced.

She poked it again with her fingertip, and it bounced back once more.

Ming Yi’s anger suddenly evaporated. After playing with the jelly for a while, a subordinate came to see her. All the silver embezzled by the Third Prince had been paid back to cover the deficit.

Ming Yi took the ledger, looked it over carefully, and nodded. “Good.”

The subordinate exited.

She looked at the crystal-like dessert and poked it with a wooden spoon. The dessert wobbled like a baby’s skin.

She tapped it with the spoon, and it swayed. After playing with it for an unknown amount of time, she smiled, remembering something that had the same tactile feel.

It was a bit improper. She covered her face and laughed. Soon, she regained her composure, became stern again, and continued her work.

Gu Jinse did not know her jelly had been “played with” by Ming Yi. She arrived at the inn and encountered Gu Tong, her father’s head steward.

Gu Tong saw her as well. Looking surprised, he walked over quickly. “Are you the young lady?”

“Father should not have taken such a risk. What on earth happened in Yuhang?” Gu Jinse asked.

“The Great Master is very angry. He told the Master to take you back to Yuhang. You know the Great Master’s temperament. You are a woman, after all. If this matter blows up and brings disaster to the Gu family, the blame will be yours.” Gu Tong lowered his voice, glancing at the pedestrians around them.

Gu Jinse sneered. “Is it my fault? Who forced me to enter the capital for the exams? And who taunted me after I passed the provincial exam, intentionally skipping the palace exam?”

“But you must know, it is now you who are unwilling to return to Yuhang. The ‘result’ is with you, so the ’cause’ no longer matters. Just return to Yuhang,” Gu Tong pleaded. “The household is in chaos. The Young Master is depressed and has tried to kill himself several times. Fortunately, he was discovered. If you do not return, I fear he will not survive.”

Gu Jinse was stunned. “He is seeking death?”

Gu Tong nodded. “Yes. Please return to Yuhang.”

“It would be better if he died.” Gu Jinse did not fall for it.

As soon as she spoke, a voice came from inside the room. “It would be better if he died so he stops ruining people! Gu Shaoqing, if he dies, I will act as if I never raised that son. If you do not go back, I will go to Chancellor Ming and report you for entering the capital privately with ill intent. I will let you rot in jail!”

Gu Tong, who was about to speak, swallowed his words. Gu Jinse sighed and said to Gu Tong, “I know your stance. Gu Jinhuan is the only boy in the Gu family and will be the head of the house in the future. But I am telling you, Gu Jinhuan acted recklessly. He committed a great mistake that is unforgivable.”

Gu Tong bowed his head, not daring to speak.

Gu Jinse did not dare go inside to disturb her parents; besides, only her mother could handle Old Man Gu. Standing outside the door, her heart felt as heavy as the sea. She told Gu Tong, “You had better leave before dusk. Chancellor Ming knows you are here. If she decides to take action, do you think you can escape?”

Gu Tong’s face changed instantly. His heart skipped a beat. “I will try to persuade the Master.”

A moment later, Madam Gu came out. Seeing her “silly” daughter, she was filled with annoyance. “What are you doing here? Tonight is your aunt’s birthday. Go buy some gifts. Do not hang around madmen, or you will lose your life. Also…”

She paused, turned back to look at the man in the room, and told him, “From the day you withheld the betrothal gifts, I had already decided to divorce you. You are still young. Marry a new wife and have another son.”

Gu Jinse: “…” Wonderful. I haven’t even married a wife yet, and my mother is getting a divorce first.

Gu Jinse returned in defeat. she sat across from Ming Yi, looking wooden. Ming Yi smiled very amiably. “What is the matter with you?”

“Chancellor Ming, my mother wants to divorce my father. We haven’t even married yet; how can they be getting a divorce?” Gu Jinse complained to herself, not noticing the sharp change in Ming Yi’s attitude.

Ming Yi rested her chin on her hand. Having eaten the jelly, her mouth was full of sweetness. From her perspective, the youth was dejected, sitting with her back to the sun, her face half-hidden in the shadows yet glowing white.

“Divorce is a good thing. I remember the Gu family has a daughter. Is there a problem here?” Ming Yi pointed to her own head and frowned. “She was forced to drink medicine.”

Gu Jinse was shocked. “Impossible. My mother would not be so heartless, and my father treated my elder sister well, saying he would support her for a lifetime.”

“Why are you panicking? Calm down.” Ming Yi signaled for her to sit. “I heard someone mention that the year your mother got married, your sister followed behind your father constantly, calling him ‘Daddy’ this and ‘Daddy’ that. She was not a fool then. How did she become one? If it was not forced medicine, what was it?”

Gu Jinse’s heart sank. Ming Yi continued, “Your mother has no romantic feelings for your father, so she would not hold a grudge against a child. Do you not remember what happened before you fell into the water?”

Gu Jinse shook her head. “I do not remember.”

“Forget it. There is no use talking about the past. I heard you are attending a banquet tonight?” Ming Yi changed the subject.

“It is my aunt’s birthday. I just found out. How did you know?” Gu Jinse was unsettled.

Ming Yi smiled without answering, looking into the youth’s eyes, which were bright and full of life.

The two left work together to buy a gift. The Vice Minister’s wife was over thirty. After picking out some jewelry, they headed to the Vice Minister’s estate.

After the Vice Minister secured his rank, he broke ties with Yuhang. After all, relatives who offered no help were only worth casual contact; those who brought trouble were better cut off entirely.

Madam Gu had already arrived. She was busy venting to her sister-in-law, describing her husband as completely worthless.

Gu Jinse was used to this, but Ming Yi laughed softly. “Your mother likes good-looking people, and her way of doing things is a bit unreliable. I heard that in the year of her coming-of-age ceremony, she liked a scholar and chased after him every day. Later, in desperation, the scholar unbuttoned his clothes to show he was actually a woman. Your mother had a good cry and then settled on your father.”

Gu Jinse burst out laughing. “She’s paying back her son’s debts.”

The two took their seats. The Vice Minister was not present; the guests were mostly women. In the back garden, some young gentlemen were composing poetry and music.

The two sat and listened to the gossip. After Madam Gu finished her rant, the women all laughed. Every household had its troubles. In their eyes, the fact that Old Man Gu did not take concubines was the greatest happiness. They felt Madam Gu did not know how lucky she was.

Gu Jinse thought to herself: My mother is the one who sees things clearly. Men are unreliable. Not taking concubines is seen as a favor to the woman? Rubbish. That should be his duty.

Feeling bored, she lowered her head and happened to see Ming Yi’s fingers resting on her lower abdomen. Her heart stirred. She quietly reached out and hooked her pinky finger around Ming Yi’s.

Ming Yi frowned and brushed her hand away. Gu Jinse refused to give up and hooked it again. She asked, “Was the jelly good?”

“It was quite fun. Very bouncy and smooth.” Ming Yi nodded. Her gaze swept over Gu Jinse’s face, and she suddenly felt an inexplicable heat. She immediately looked away.

Her behavior was a bit strange. Gu Jinse asked curiously, “Did you think of something shameful?”

Ming Yi did not answer, maintaining a cold distance.

Gu Jinse continued, “I know what you wanted to say. Did you think of a butt?”

There was a certain dessert that looked exactly like what Ming Yi was thinking of. it had been popular on the internet, and she had even tried it.

Ming Yi’s entire face turned red and hot. She gave Gu Jinse a fierce glare. A haunting rosy hue quickly spread from her cheeks to behind her ears. The Vice Minister’s wife suddenly asked, “Chancellor Ming, what is wrong with your face?”